Crimsonland Reviews
Sure, it's nothing spectacular to look at and it can get repetitive extremely fast; however, if you had some mindless enjoyment from various 10tons titles like Butcher for instance, then Crimsonland will certainly give you a short burst of entertainment.
Don't be fooled by its simplistic, retro visual stylings. Crimsonland is enormous fun, and the perfect game to dip in and out of on occasion. Will you keep coming back for more though? Probably not.
There are much, much better games, and even much better similar games, on the PS4. Get those unless you really are a major fan of this genre.
When Crimsonland released way back on the PC in 2003, little did it know it was going to be ported to PS3, PS4, PS Vita and now Xbox One. 10tons studios created one of the most addicting top-down shooters ever. Thats a bold statement to make in a opening paragraph in a review, but Crimsonland could back it up. The pure enjoyment when playing this game is like no other, but does the addictive gameplay get too repetitive? How does Crimsonland hold up to other modern top-down shooters? Let's find out.
Crimsonland is an accessible guilty pleasure. You can start up the PS4 and within a minute you will be blasting your way through countless hordes of monsters, literally painting the town red with no real reason as to why! 2-4 player local co-op makes it a worthy contender for some multiplayer action with friends, it's just a shame the lone gamer can't take it online and team up with other loners for some hectic multiplayer sessions.
If you're looking for a top-down action release that offers bite-sized levels for you to dive into for a few minutes at a time with a difficulty that slowly ramps up as you go, then you should give Crimsonland a try. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does offer a solid and entertaining arcade-style release on Nintendo Switch that is worth a shot.
It may not be outstanding to look at, or indeed listen to, but Crimsonland is a pure, easy-to-pick-up gameplay experience that comes dangerously close to becoming pretty addictive stuff.
It's mindless fun, with enough addictive strategy to keep playing. I loved weaving through the hundreds of enemies (whether they were zombies, spiders, or something in-between) so I could reach a power-up orb at the last second, to suddenly fry everything around me with a flame thrower. It's a great time all around, and if you have the itch, give it a try.
Crimsonland is an old game that is dressed up with some new clothes. It's not good looking; it has no story, and it has no gimmick to make it more attractive. Even so, it's still going to get players hocked until they finish all the levels, and that is a sort of quality that is not easy to find nowadays.
Now, this being a twin-stick shooter, Crimsonland's other failings could have been overlooked if the gameplay was fantastic. However, the gameplay is pretty basic as far as this genre goes, and it rarely elevates itself past mediocre.
It's the safest, most generic example of the dual stick shooter in years. There's no denying there's a visceral thrill in the action that it offers, but let's just say it's just as well the game's priced to be a cheap bit of throwaway fun.
Crimsonland is a very simple game that is tough to master. Whilst being a lot of fun while it lasts, we can't help but feel that it's missing that undefinable something. There are definitely visual shortcomings that some people won't be able to get past (although that's more on them than the developer) and though there's simple enjoyment to be had, there's also a feeling that a lot more could have been done to mix things up for players who want a deeper experience. It'll definitely be one that you'll pick up every now and again for a quick hour of cathartic Survival mode gunplay though, that's for sure.
There is a lot of thought that has been put into this game's survival modes, and people will enjoy that side of things. It's just a shame that thought couldn't be put into the rest of the game.
Crimsonland isn't the Indie highlight of the year, but what you do have is a solid 2D Arena Shooter that works as a nice distraction when you may only have a short window for playing a game. You can stick it on, have a quick play and then get back to whatever you are doing. There is always a place for game like that in our opinion and it is more than welcome to take up what little space is does on the PS4 HDD.
Although Crimsonland has tight controls and some neat survival mode variations one can't help but feel disappointed with the overall experience due to its generic presentation, too much emphasis on chance, and monotonous quest mode levels.
Crimsonland offers some good twin-stick shooter fun that you'll really enjoy blasting your way through. It's great and addictive when trying to polish off the levels, but it is a little simplistic - that's ultimately what separates it from the likes of Doom.
Crimsonland is a fairly forgettable experience hindered further by unattractive audio and visuals. While you have to admire its retro-style arcade feel and gameplay, sadly it’s not enough to keep you engaged for long. Survival mode has the longest legs but even then it’s not something I found myself wanting to return back to long term.
Crimsonland is a top-down arcade shooter which is great fun in short bursts. You will spray bullets and other projectiles through waves of enemies gaining perks and using temporary power ups along the way. The game is a great couch co-op game to play with your friends and you will spend a lot of time playing the survival mode trying to get higher on the leaderboards. It lacks online multiplayer, so don't expect anything of that nature. Quest mode won't take long to complete, but it's three difficulties will keep you occupied. Each quest does not take long to complete, so there is a nice flow to progressing through the mode. Overall, Crimsonland is a fun, stable little game which is a blast to play. It might be a little expensive at $14, but if you enjoy killing hundreds of enemies in twin-stick shooters, then you won't go wrong with it. I will admit that when I first looked at Crimsonland, I didn't expect much. However, the game grew on me as I played it.
With the onslaught of dual-stick shooters on the last generation of consoles, it’s surprising that it has taken until now for this generation to get its first great shooter, but Crimsonland can take pride in being the premiere dual-stick shooter on the PS4.
While it won’t win points for its complex and challenging story or trying to push boundaries Crimsonland is a thoroughly satisfying arcade-style twin-stick shooter that I will likely return to periodically for quite some time. While it isn’t graphically very impressive and the sound is relatively limited there’s no denying the power of its gameplay. It is adrenaline-fueled, brutally challenging, over-the-top, and should be considered a must-have for shooter fans!